Reserve-tank for liquid-containers.



L. H. WILSON.

RESERVE TANK FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

; 2 SEEETB-SHEET 1.

L. H. WILSON.

RESERVE TANK FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LEWIS H. WILSON, OF IHLEN, MINNESQTA.

RESERVE-TANK FOR LIQUID-CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

" Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 2?, 1913. Serial No. 786,877.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known tiat I, LEWIS H. WILSON,

citizen of the United States, residing at Ihlen, in the county ofPipestone and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Reserve-Tanks for Liquid-Containers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful:

arranged that when all the liquid contained 1 in the main tank has beenwithdrawn that contained in the reserve tank may be discharged into themain tank and subsequently withdrawn therefrom. Gasolene and oil tanksfor automobile and other gas engines, water tanks for boilers and acetyf lene generators, and, 1n fact, nearly all liquid containers .now inuse will be benefited by such an arrangement, as it will act as awarning that the tank should be refilled before all of its contents havebeen withmy invention applied to a tank of the undrawn. This is of greatimportance in automobiles, particularly because of the fact.

that Without some such safe-guard to give? to in the followingdescription and indiwarning the entire supply of gasolene might be usedup while the vehicle was at a considerable distance from any source ofsupply. With the reserve tank warningwill be given as soon as all thegasolene contained in the main tank has been used and the vehicle may bedriven upon the gasolene contained in the reserve tank to the nearestsource of supply.

A further object of my present invention is to so arrange the main tankand reserve tank as to insure the filling of the reserve tank when themain tank is filled, this being accomplished by so arranging the twotanks that the reserve tank must be filled before any liquid passes tothe main tank. A still further object of my invention is to provide avalve normally shutting off the communication between the reserve andmain tanks which must be manually operated to permit the flow of liquidfrom the reserve tank to the main tank and which will, therefore, serveas a warning that the liquid in the main tank has been exhausted.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby thedepth or amount of liquid in the main tank may be conveniently measured.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and then specificallypointed out in the claims which are attached hereto and form a part ofthis application.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view of a conventional form ofgasolene tank, such as is commonly employed upon motor vehicles, partsbeing shown in section to disclose the method of installing my reservetank therein; Fig. 2 is an unassembled perspective view of the valvestem employed in connection with my reserve tank, parts being brokenaway to 'permit the showing of the same upon a somewhat larger scaleFig. 3 is a detail elevational view of the valve employed to control theadmission from the reserve tank to the main tank, parts being shown insection to, more clearly bring out certain details in construction; Fig.4: is a perspective view of the filling I spout of the reserve tank;Fig. 5 isv an elevational view, partly in section, showing dergroundtype.

Corresponding and like parts are referred cat ed'in' all the views ofthe accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring first to the form of my invention disclosed in Fig. 1, 10indicates the main tank, this being of any desirable construction, as myreserve tank is applicable to all forms of liquid containers.

This tank is provided with the usual filling opening 11in which isseated a screen 12, the opening being normally closed by a screw cap 13.Built within the tank 10 with its bottom 14 supported in spaced relationabove the bottom of the tank 10 by standards 15, or in any othersuitable manner, is an auxiliary tank 16, this tank being so builtwithin the main tank that its top is ositioned somewhat below thatportion 0 the top of the main tank in which the filling opening 11 isformed.

The auxiliary tank 16 is provided in its top and bottom with openings 17and 18 in alinement with each other and with the opening 11 of the maintank, the former opening'constituting the filling opening of theauxiliary tank, While the latter provides means for admitting thecontents of the auxiliary tank to the main tank. An mternally threadednipple 19 seats within the opening 17 of the auxiliary tank and issecured by a laterally directed flange 20 to the j to of said tank, theflange being riveted, aid

ered, or otherwise secured to the tank.

A cylindrical sleeve 21 is soldered or otherwise secured about the innerend of the nipple 19 to prevent splashin to the top of said tank. Itwill,"therefore,

be clear that any liquid poured through the opening 11 of the main tankwill be poured directly into the funnel 23 andwill, therefore, pass intothe reserve tank 16.

The bottom 14 of the reserve tank is provided with a valve seat 24surrounding the opening 18 and a-valve 25 normally closes 'the'opening18 and, therefore, prevents the pasisiage of liquid therethrough intothe main tan The valve 25, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawinggincludes a disk 26, preferably formed of metal and acting as asupport for a packing disk 27 of rubber or other suitable material. Oneend of a valve stem, indicated as a whole by the numeral 28, is reducedand threaded, as shown at 29, and passed through perforations formedcentrally of the. disks 26 and 2 7 and threaded into. the larger end ofa conical valve guide 30 having an axially extending ide rod 31, thevalve guide 30 being mova 1e into and out of the opening 18. The valvestem 28 includes a lower member 32 upon which is formedthe reducedterminal 29, previously described, and in the upper end of which isformed a threaded soc et 33,'and a second member 34 externally threadedat each end, the lower end of said second member being threaded into thesocket 33 of the first member. A bail cap 35 is threaded upon the upperend of the' second member 34 of the valve stem to provide a handle bymeans of which the valve may be raised. This valve stem is of suchlengththat when the valve is closed the free end of the valve stem willextendiinto the lower mouth of the funnel 23 in position to be readilygrasped by any one reaching through the filling opening 11 of the maintank. In orderto properly centralize thevalveand valve stem a perforateddisk or spider 36 is threaded into the nipple 19, this-spiderjbeingprovided cent'rally with an opening for the passage of the. uppermember34-,. of the valve stem.

' The upper member 34 of thevalv'e stem is somewhat less in diameterthan the lower of the conmember, and it will, therefore, be apparentthat when the valve stem has been raised a certain dist-mice the upperend of'the lower member 32 of the valve stem will engage against thelower face of the spider 36 and prevent further upward movement. Therelative lengths of the parts of the valve stem are such that thischecking of upward movement will take place before the lower end of-theguide finger 31 has passed upwardly through the opening 18, for whichreason any completedisengagement of the valve from its seat isprevented. In order to, normally hold the valve in closed position,

I provide a helical spring 37 through which the valve stem extends, oneend of this spring bearing against the upper face of the disk 2.6, whilethe latter engages beneath the lower face of the spider 36.

In order to insure proper filling and emptying of the reserve tank 16, Iprovide a vent pipe 38 which extends through the .top of the reservetank 16 with its open. upper end spaced somewhat below the funnel 23 andwith its inner end closed. This vent pipe is provided adjacent its innerclosed end with an opening-39 for the passage of air into and out of thereserve tank 16. By this arrangement, air may pass freely in and out ofthe reserve tank, while any splashing of liquid through the vent pipe isavoided. The funnel 23 is provided with a slot 40 so arranged that ayard stick or other suitable measuring instrument may be passed throughthe filling opening 11 of the main tank, through the slot 40 and to thebottom of the main tank to permit measuring of the depth of liquidcontained therein. It will, of course, be clear that some of the liquidentering the funnel will pass through this slot, but such escape ofliquid will not be sufficient to in any way a cot the certain filling ofthe reserve tank 16.

In use, the cap 13 is removed and liquid poured into the filling opening11 in the usual manner. This iquid instead, however, of passing directlyinto the main tank passes into the reserve tank 16 through the funnel23, nipple 19.and sleeve 21. During this filling operation the valve 25is closed and no liquid can, therefore, escape from the reserve tank tothe main tank. As soon as the reserve tank has been completely filled,assuming that liquid is still poured into the opening 11, this liquidwill overflow the funnel 23 and fill the .main tank 10. Whenboth-thereserve-tank and main tank have been filled, the screw cap 13 isre placed in the usual manner. The liquid may then be withdrawn from themain tank 10, as desired for use, until such tank has become entirelyemptied. When this takes place, the cap 13 may be removed, the

handle 35 of the valve stem grasped to raise the valve and the contentsof the reserve tank drained into the main'tank, after which the valvemay be released and the cap replaced. This added supply of liquid to "Inmany instances, it will be found inconvenient or impracticable to buildthe reserve ta-nk within the main tank, this beliquid contained inbothing particularly true of supply tanksfor gasolene and -other 'oils'which are com-j monly buried in the grounds For this; reason, I haveillustrated one method of mounting my reserve tankoutside of the;

main tank, this method being clearlyi shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Inthis: figure," the main tank is indicated as. a whole by the numeral 41,being provided with the usual pipe 42 extending at its upper 5 tank 43tothe pipe 42,'being connectedthereto by a T-coupling 48. The bottom ofthe reserve tank 43, immediately below the pipe 45,

is provided with a downwardly extending nipple 49 through which thecontents of the tank 43 maydischar e, and a pipe 50 connects an elbow 51threade upon the free end of this nipple with a T-coupling 52 in thepipe 42. A spider 53 is threaded into the upper portion of the --pipe 45and a sleevev 54 has its upper end threaded into the spider 53 and itslower end, which extends within the reserve tank 43, closed by athreaded plug 55 having an opening 56 for the passage of the reducedupper portion 57 of a valve stem 58. This valve stem is provided atitsupper end, which extends above the sleeve 54, with a handle 59 similarto the handle 35, and the lower end of the member 57 of the valve stemis threaded into the upper end of a lower valve stem member 60 whichcarries the valve 61 controllingthe flow of liquid through the nipple49. This valve,

and in fact its valve stem, is identical in construction with thatpreviously described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing and nofurther description of the same is, therefore, necessary. A helicalspring 62 surrounds the valve stem bearing between the valve 61 andtheplug 55 to normally hold the valve in closed position.

When a tank or container of the aboveend above the surface of the groundto permit 'filling of the tank. Insuch a case, I mountj my reserve tank43 either directly upon the serve tank" the usual furnished to eitherthe main tank or the reserve tank being supplied through the pipewithdrawn from the main tank-41, the valve 61 may beopened to discharthe contents of the reserve tank into t e main tank" through the pipes50and '42. It will, of course, be apparent that that part of the usualfilling pipe 42 above the T-coupling 48 me, be dispensed with, the Tcoupling being rep seed by an elbow. v This, however, is not usuallydone, as I prefer to leave this pipe open, save for a removable cap atits upper end, In order that it may act as a'vent pipe for both tanksduring the filling of the same and In order that a measuring rod may bepassed downwardly therethrough to rmit measuring bf the" liquidcontained 'm the main tank 41.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that my reserve tankmay be app ied, with very slight structural change, to all forms ofliqluid containers now in general use'and that t e specific constructionof the reserve tank, valve and other parts are susce tible of many chanes. y Y he screen 12 -incluges a 'foraminous body threading the spiderfrom the ni ple, the

spider, valve and valve stem may e raised completely out of the tank forrepairs or adjustment.

It will of course be understood that I do not wish in any way to limitmyself to the specific details of construction illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification, as any changes, within thescope of the appended claims, may be made at any time, without in theslightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention.*WhatIclaimisz- 1. The combination with a closed container provided witha filling openin in its top, a reserve container mounted wit in the Iing the same. 'When all the liquid has been described character iseqplippedwith my re. 4 'ng' pipe 42 is-no Y longer employed as a fillingpipe, all liquid described in connection with the intecontainer with itstop and bottom spaced from the top and bottom thereof, the top andbottom of the reserve container being provided with openings inalinement with each other and with the filling opening of the container,a nipple extending through the opening in the top of the reserve con--tainer,'a funnel surrounding the upper end of the nipple and-terminatingshort of the top of the container, a spider having threaded en agementin the nipple, a valve stem movab e through the spider, a valve carriedby the valve stem and adapted to close the opening in the bottom of thereserve container, a spring surrounding the valve stem and bearingagainst the valve and spider to normally hold the valve in closedposition, and a shoulder formed upon the valve stem to limit its upwardmovement against the action of the spring.

2. The combination with a container having a filling opening in its top,a: reserve container mounted wlthin the first container with an openingin its top alining with the opening in the top of the first container, a

nipple extending through the opening the top of the reserve container, afunnel surrounding the upper end of the nipple and spaced below the topof the first container, said funnel having a measuring rod receivingslot, and means for governing discharge of liquid from the reservecontainer into the first container.

3. The combination with a container provided with a filling opening inits top, a reserve container mounted within the first and with openingsin its top and bottom in alinement with the opening of the firstcontainer, a nipple extending through the opening in the top of thereserve container, a spider seating in the nipple, a valve normallyclosing the opening in the bottom of the reserve container, a valve stemcarried by the valve and extending through the spider, and means forlimiting movement of the valve stem to open the valve.

4. The combination with a closed container provided with a fillingopening in its top, of a reserve container mounted within the firstcontainer and having openings in its top and bottom in alinement withthe opening of the first container, a guide carried by the reservecontainer, a valve stem slidable in the guide, and a valve carried bythe valve stem to close the opening in the bottom of the reservecontainer, said valve including a valve disk and packing disk throughwhich a reduced extension of the valve stem extends, and a conicalcentering and clamping member secured to the reduced extension ofthevalve stem to clamp the disk and packing member to each other and tothe stem.

5. The combination with a main container, of a reserve containercommunicating near its upper portion with the main container,communicating means between the lower portion of the reserve containerand the main container, a guide carried by the reserve container, avalve stem slidable in the guide, and a valve carried by the stem andnormally shuttin oflt' the lower communication between t e containers,said valve including a valve disk and packin disk throughwhich a reducedextension 0% the valve stem projects, and a conical centering andclamping member secured to the reduced extension of the valve stem toclamp the disk and packing member to each other and to the stem.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS I-I. WILSON. [L. s.] Witnesses:

E. G. WILSON, Jos. EVENSON.

